Although Team Rhône-Alpes won the architecture prize at the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/solar-decathlon/">2012 Solar Decathlon Europe</a> with their <a href="http://inhabitat.com/modular-canopea-house-by-team-rhone-alpes-has-a-crown-of-dappled-light/">modular Canopea house</a>, the competition is far from over. <a href="http://ekobrasil.org/en/">Team Brasil</a> is still in the running with their <a href="http://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-eko-house-from-brazil-is-a-modular-smart-home-with-a-compost-toilet/">prefab Ekó House</a> - a genuinely sustainable design that could cure their home country's dearth of affordable housing. Focusing less on high-tech and more on proudly Brazilian humanistic interventions, this group used sustainably-sourced natural materials and prefab methods that slash construction costs and times. Despite its emphasis on low-tech, this gorgeous solar-powered home produces a whopping 21.157 kWh per year - three times more energy than it consumes.

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Eko House by Team Brazil SDE 2012

Team Brasil went for a low-tech, high-human approach to their Eko House

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Eko House by Team Brazil SDE 2012

The Eko House was constructed using mostly sustainably-sourced wood

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Eko House by Team Brazil SDE 2012

A sliding bamboo screen provides protection from the sun

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Eko House by Team Brazil SDE 2012

Here we see the screen completely closed

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Eko House by Team Brazil SDE 2012

There's a gap between the bamboo screen and house, which promotes natural ventilation

The bedroom area opens onto a lounge. This home is perfect for a single person or couple.

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Eko House by Team Brazil SDE 2012

This home is particularly well-lit and yet exceptionally comfortable thanks to passive design

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Eko House by Team Brazil SDE 2012

A panel elongates the length of the house

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Eko House by Team Brazil SDE 2012

Great emphasis was placed on sourcing materials locally and sustainably

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Eko House by Team Brazil SDE 2012

The modern bathroom boasts a compost toilet

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Eko House by Team Brazil SDE 2012

Bamboo is one of the most renewable materials on the planet and it is durable to boot.

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Eko House by Team Brazil SDE 2012

Blinds provide additional solar protection

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Eko House by Team Brazil SDE 2012

An outdoor patio extends the interior space

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Eko House by Team Brazil SDE 2012

Take one last look at Team Brasil's stellar work!

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Eko House by Team Brazil SDE 2012

Although Team Rhône-Alpes won the architecture prize at the 2012 Solar Decathlon Europe with their modular Canopea house, the competition is far from over. Team Brasil is still in the running with their prefab Ekó House - a genuinely sustainable design that could cure their home country's dearth of affordable housing. Focusing less on high-tech and more on proudly Brazilian humanistic interventions, this group used sustainably-sourced natural materials and prefab methods that slash construction costs and times. Despite its emphasis on low-tech, this gorgeous solar-powered home produces a whopping 21.157 kWh per year - three times more energy than it consumes.